Tech Story #3: The war of the currents — Edison's DC vs Tesla + Westinghouse's AC
The war of currents: Edison's DC vs Tesla and Westinghouse's AC (1880s–1890s).
Edison or Tesla: who really won the war of the currents? ⚡📜
1️⃣ 1882 — EDISON'S DC: Pearl Street Station lit up New York with DC (about 110 V). But DC couldn't be stepped up, so it lost too much power after about 1.5 km (1 mile) — a power plant every mile!
2️⃣ TESLA + WESTINGHOUSE PICK AC: transformers raise AC to a high voltage for long trips, then lower it again for homes. In 1893 AC lit the Chicago World's Fair.
3️⃣ 1896 — NIAGARA FALLS: AC power travelled about 40 km (26 miles) to Buffalo, New York. AC won the grid!
Today: AC runs the grid, while your phone, laptop and very long high-voltage DC links use DC — so both won, in a way.
Read the voiceover (transcript)
- Edison or Tesla: who won?
- Eighteen eighty-two: Edison lights New York with DC. But it can't go far!
- Tesla and Westinghouse pick AC. Transformers raise the voltage for long trips.
- Eighteen ninety-six: Niagara Falls sends AC forty kilometres. AC wins!
- AC grid, DC gadgets!
- Next story: the very first chip! Follow for more!
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